About

BACKSTORY: In 2017, I pitched about a dozen publishers a cartoon book about Maine, drawn by 4 cartoonists who live in Maine (and one who lives just a mile from the border -- that's ME). I thought it would be a fun book. The good thing is that Down East Publishing also thought it was a great idea. The book, titled LOBSTER THERAPY AND MOOSE PICK-UP LINES, will be published and available as soon as May 2018.

Now, the bad news -- and this is something you already know -- publishing does not pay a lot. Additional funds raised here would help us with travel expenses with promoting the book. This is also a once-in-lifetime opportunity for you to buy something special -- a signed book, an original piece of cartoon art, etc. -- and support the cartoonists directly.

Lobster Therapy Book Cover

Here's who we are, and photos of some of the originals that are available:

Bill Woodman retired to Portland, Maine, where he devotes his energy to painting and cartooning. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Playboy, National Lampoon, Audubon, The New York Times, and Gourmet.

Here are some of his originals that are available for purchase:

Original Moose Cartoon by Bill Woodman

Original Bears Cartoon by Bill Woodman

Original Kayak Cartoon by Bill Woodman

Original Maple Cartoon by Bill Woodman

Lighthouse Watercolor Painting by Bill Woodman

David Jacobson has had cartoons published in The New Yorker, Down East, and Bangor Daily News. He is also a professional glass blower and lives in Montville, Maine.

Seal Original by David Jacobson

Ice Fishing by David Jacobson

Cow by David Jacobson

Bathtub Buoys by David Jacobson

Blown Glass Bowl by David Jacobson

John Klossner’s cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and Reader’s Digest.

Leaving Maine by John Klossner

Maine Parking by John Klossner

Bad Maine Puns by John Klossner

Whale New Yorker Cartoon by John Klossner

Mike Lynch is a recipient of the Jack Davis Award and has been published in Reader’s Digest, Playboy, The Wall Street Journal, Golf Digest, Harvard Business Review, The New York Daily News, and many others. He lives in Milton, New Hampshire, just over the border from Maine.

Whoopie Pie Owls by Mike Lynch

Moose Ice Cream by Mike Lynch

Twitter Bears by Mike Lynch

Waste Vacation Day by Mike Lynch

Puss Bean Boots by Mike Lynch

Jeff Pert was a beloved cartoonist whose work was widely published, including in the Down East title, How’s the Water, Bob? He passed away in 2014.

We have a couple of packages of Jeff's material:

Jeff Pert Glass, book, postcards, combo

Jeff Pert Mug, book, postcards, magnet combo

Some issues of the RACONTEUR comic that we offer one copy of at the $15 level. Mike Lynch, John Klossner and a lot of other cartoonists (Jeff Pert, David Jacobson, Rina Piccolo, Mark Parisi, Michael Maslin, Brian Moore) draw "true comic book stories by cartoonists."

Risks and challenges

The cartoons for the new book LOBSTER THERAPY AND MOOSE PICK-UP LINES are done, and the book has been edited, laid out and in production. We didn't want to start a Kickstarter until we knew for sure that the book would be available in a timely manner.

We plan on shipping before the end of May 2018, and it may take a week to get everything out. The rare stuff -- the one of a kind items, the original art -- will arrive fully insured in the United States.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $15 or more
About $15

RACONTEUR mini-comic

You get a random copy of the RACONTEUR mini-comic book with work by Mike Lynch, John Klossner and others. This is a comic that we self-published with true stories drawn by cartoonists like Jeff Pert, David Jacobson and others.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

David Jacobson Package: Bowl + Book

David Jacobson is a a professional glassblower and has contributed one of his handblown bowls. Take a look at the bowl. It's beautiful. You will receive his hand-signed bowl and an unsigned book. David's site Is: http://davidjacobsonglass.com/about/

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

Original Bill Woodman Moose Cartoon

You get the original cartoon and the book.

"Hello, Sheriff. Bill and Dotty Moose here. We'd like to report two moose wachers [sic] in the back yard." Original art, ink and watercolor, of one of the cartoons that Bill drew for the book. 9" x 11 1/2" bristol. The art and gag line are is about 7 1/2" x 7 1/2".

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

Original Bill Woodman Bears Cartoon

You get the original cartoon and a book.

3 bears, swatting at trout. "Close but no cigar" "Forget about it." In your dreams buster." Original art, ink and watercolor. One of the cartoons that Bill drew for the book. 9" x 11 1/2" bristol. The art is about 8" x 4".

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

Original Bill Woodman Maple Cartoon

You get the original cartoon and book.

A rare two panel cartoon. Panel one: Man comes out of his house. Panel two: he looks at the bucket attached to the maple tap and says, "Nothing yet." Original art, ink and watercolor. Paper pasted on Bristol. 9" x 11 1/2" total size.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

Cat in Bean Boots Cartoon by Mike Lynch

You get this original cartoon and a book.

"Puss in Bean Boots." Ink and watercolor on paper. 8 1/2" x 11"

NOTE: As you can see in the photo, I wrote notes on the side of the paper. The original has a list of Maine topics in the upper left. I sometimes write things on my originals. Also: there are two cat ink drawings on the back side of this original. I can send pics if you want to see them.